Avs’ Paul Stastny talks upcoming season, and on question of captaincy

Wish I’d been more available than I have of late, but been sneezily, sniffely sick of late. I personally want to thank the makers of every over-the-counter cold medicine out there for making products that never, ever work on me.

Avs sent Stoa, Holos and Gaunce sent to Lake Erie today. Am I surprised at any of the cuts? Not really.
The Avs are now at 31 players and need to get down to 23 by opening night – but two of those players (Brandon Yip and Jan Hejda) are on injured reserve. So really the Avs really only need to make five cuts by opening night. One of them surely will be goalie Trevor Cann, so who stays and who goes among the four remaining cuts should make for quite a battle down the stretch.

Do the Avs keep a heavyweight enforcer (Patrick Bordeleau) on the roster? If they keep Stefan Elliott on defense – which I predict will happen – does that mean Tyson Barrie is the odd man out? Could be, but if that were the case, you’d be keeping Kyle Cumiskey over Barrie. Really? Cumiskey has yet to play in the preseason – and I don’t have any information that he’s hurt – and Barrie has put up four points in two games.

Even if they sent both Cumiskey and Barrie down to Lake Erie, that would still leave eight defensemen on the roster, counting Hejda. Assuming Hejda isn’t among the opening night players, and assuming Joe Sacco wants to keep eight D-men on the roster, and assuming Elliott makes the team, that leaves the final roster spot for a defensive job between Barrie and Cumiskey.

Anyway, let’s transition to Paul Stastny, who I think has looked reasonably good in camp so far. Better quickness with the puck, mostly in his decision-making. Hockey is such a give-and-go game now, and I think he’s gotten better at moving the puck faster.

Here are a couple minutes with No. 26 (with Ch. 9’s Susie Wargin looking on intently in the background), talking about his dissatisfaction with his own play last year, thoughts on the coming year and whether he’d like to get that captain’s C or not.

Barrie and Elliott should not be in the NHL for at least another 2 seasons. But, of course, the Avs will do thier usual and force players into the lineup far before they are ready. They did it with Duchene, and he’s more-less ruined as far as ever being that superstar 100-point guy. Now Duchene will only ever be a 60-70 point player.

Zaphod

was Thornton forever ruined after his 7 point rookie season?

Neil

What a fool. Duchene was in no way ruined. If you don’t know anything don’t say anything

Adam G.

You are not a moderator here. Stop acting like one. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion here. And name calling is frowned upon in the Denver Post forums and blogs. I suggest you read the rules on posting on this site.

Avs_Fan_

Ironic post, you are not a moderator either, so don’t bash his opinion.

Chris96

Plus i happen to like his opinion. And don’t like people that come here to talk badly aabout the Avs

KG

Have you been paying attention to the league since the lockout? A good amount of the NHL’s best players are in their early to mid 20’s and most the biggest stars played in the NHL as teenagers… Avs are fortunate to have Typhan Barriot!

Avs_Fan_

Who ever said Duchene was going to be a 100 point player?

Also, Duchene is 20 years old, are you reall suggesting that he has hit his peak at such a young age?

All players are different and they make the jump to the NHL when they are ready, not when some guy hiding behind a keyboard says so.

Paul

Not every player jumps into the league like Crosby and puts up ridiculous points. Most of them do what all rookies do and start off slow and build up. Corey Perrey (who just won the Hart btw) had less than 50 pts in his rookie season, but had more and more each year and BAM 98 pts. Even look at the sedins! It took them close to a decade to be 80 pt players!

See what I did just there? I gave you stats to show you don’t know what you’re talking about and just being a cynical lame excuse for a fan. Duchene had a great rookie year, and despite the team being total garbage last year, he improved in every sense of the game. Sure his plus-minus went down, but everyone’s did, and he was arguably our best player at all times. Try to be realistic, would you?

JW

Is the home opener sold out? Guy at ticket horse said it was, seems weird though considering the Sakic retirement wasnt even sold out. Im from Alberta and plan to fly down to the game (if i can get tickets) but it seems to be difficult. if anyone could let me know anything, appreciate it.

Neil

Yeah apparently it was sold out in 20 minutes. Pretty crazy. But I respect you for flying down for hockey. That’s awesome

JW

Thanks a lot for everything guys!! Again, appreciate the info. It’ll be my 3rd time flying down and am really looking forward to it. Only being 17, guess im pretty spoiled haha

I think it was against the Sharks. Last year’s first game was vs chicago..

EnzoSin

Yep, Joe Sakic night was against the Sharks with the Av’s winning 5-2. (Anderson had to make a lot of saves but nevertheless.)

Anonymous

Pepsi Center is holding on to tickets for opening night for people that purchase the 14-game plan or season tickets. I would expect them to release those at some point but I don’t know when. I wouldn’t give up hope yet.

Sakic night was on a Thursday. Saturday games are always better sellers so between that and the opponent I think the demand is a lot higher.

Anonymous

JW it’s probably because in addition to Forsberg’s # being retired, the Avs are having a tribute to Belak, Skrastins & Salei. It’s gonna be an emotional night. I’m flying out from NYC to be there.

Anonymous

I just hope they broadcast the complete ceremony on TV/NHL

AnAvsFan

Yes, they are sold out. Check FlashSeats. You can get to the website through ticket horse. I think Sakic’s event was sold out. They told me at Tickethorse to keep trying; you never know when a seat will become available. Toddb3 is right, the 14 game pack is holding up seats.

Hannah

Seriously, Stastny is awesome. Just pure awesome. I’d love to see him get the ‘C’, he seems like he could be that guy for many years. Also, he was so holding back a grin at the thought of being captain of the Avs.

Anyways, also I hope Elliott and Barrie make the team. They’ve looked so sharp during the preseason, they could really bring something special to the team.

Vincentmelanson

Let’s give them a 10-game trial and assess their progress and ability to perform at the NHL level. It is way to early to call them busts or calder candidates for that matter. The AVS improved their blueline and their best prospects are defensemen. They may challenge for a playoff spot this season, but the target is to become a top contender for at least half a decade. They have the D prospects to achieve that, but still lack scoring depth on the wings. A shortcut to contender status would be signing Zach Parise next summer if he becomes an UFA.

avsolutely

I totally agree with the Zach Parise thought. He and Stastny would make a great line with Jones or whoever.

Neil

Haha like I know it is possible but do you think it’s really going to happen? Expecially if they end up being good this year.

Vincentmelanson

I never said it was likely. But Denver is a great place to live and fellow Tean USA Stastny and Johnson could be convincing…

Neil

Yeah i’ve thought about the USA thing. Trading is more likely but I obviouslt wouldn’t want to give up much. I’d be happy with Barrie and Jones and a pick for Parise but I love Barrie

How about sending the CumiskWick ice capade show down to the minors and keeping both rookies for now, to see what they can do. They can always change things later.

Stastny still has a lot to prove in my opinion.

Anonymous

I’d like to see Barrie and Elliot play at NHL Level. Maybe they should be given a chance instead of Cumiskey and Hunwick?

Puckmeup

Okay, I know some people won’t like this one but I have to put it out there. Am I the only one who heard him say that if he got the captaincy it wouldn’t change him or the team? Uh…when you finish at the bottom of the barrel Sir Staz, yes, you need to change a few things! Maybe that thinking is what’s holding this team back. Change is good when you’ve struggled as much as this team has over the past few years.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.